Elastic-fluid turbine.



W. J. A. LONDON. ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 2, 1910.

Patented May 16, 1911.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. A. LONDON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE TERRY STEAM TURBINE COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, .A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELASTIC-FLUID TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1911.

ford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly ;to turbines of the type described in U. S. Patent 741,385, Oct. 13, 1903, to E. C. Terry, in which a rotor is provided with a series of buckets semicylindrical in form with,their mouths at the periphery of the rotor, and a reversing unit, comprising one or more semi cylindrical reversing chambers with their mouths confronting the mouths of the buckets, so that when considering a single bucket and a reversingchamber opposed to it they open mouth to mouth and the two form substantially a circular chamber with a short straight portion on two sides.

While I have illustrated and hereinafter describe a reversing unit having a plural number of reversing chambers, and refer to the member which separates these reversing chambers from one another as a division plate, it is apparent that under certain conditions a single reversing chamber is sufficient, and in such case that wall of the reversing chamber which determines the direction of the flow of. the actuating fluid is termed the guide plate.

My invention relates particularly to .a novel construction of the reversing chambers by means of which the lead and 'return faces of a division or guide plate, as the case may be, can be fixed at the proper angle to correctly deliver the actuating fluid to and receive it from the buckets of the rotor.

It is of course apparent that the actuat ing fluid travels in a circular path from bucket to reversing chamber. and back to bucket again, then to the next reversing chamber, back to the, bucket, and so on, and by lead face I mean that part of the front edge of the division or guide plate which delivers the actuating fluid to the bucket, and by return face I mean' that part of the front edge of the division or guide plate which .receives the actuating fluid from the bucket.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a part of a rotor and a revers mg unit,tl1e latter being shown partly in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of the reversing unit. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one ofthe division or guide plates. View of one modification.

Referring to the drawings a denotes the rotor, which of course is carried by a shaft mounted in suitable bearings within a case, and b is a reversing unit arranged in operative relation to the rotor, being suitably supported within the case. I have not illustrated in the drawings the complete turbine equipment as that forms no part of my invention.

c c 0 denote the reversing chambers of the reversing-unit 6 having curved rear walls (I to guide the actuating fluid, and division plates 6 e e separating these reversing chambers from one another. Heretofore these reversing units have been formed in sections from cast metal and secured together, but from a commercial standpoint it has been impractical to give to the lead faces I Z Z and the return faces 1" r o" of the several division plates their proper and individual inclination.

By my invention I form the division plates separately fro-m the other parts of-the reversing-unit, provide means for inserting and securely fastening them in' place, but leaving them free at the sides near the mouth of the chambers in order that when.necessary or advisable the faces of the division plates can be given the proper or any desired inclination by the use of a suitable setting tool to conform to the requirements'of any given case or condition.

My'invention is not concerned with the form in which the reversing unit or the reversing chambers are made or arranged, but it consists primarily in forming the division plates of a material, such as sheet metal, which can be bentand shaped as desired and independently of one another.

It being understood that the actuating fluid enters the reversing chamber at one side and leaves at the other,-it is apparent hat the angle of inclination of the delivery face is different from the angle of inclination of the return face of the division or guide plate. Also it is desirable to provide an exit for dead steam which will collectat about the center of the reversing chamber.

- By cutting a notch or of substantial width and depth in the front edge of each division I so return faces sutliciently 'lgiivcniits proper and individual inclination and 'I also pas without affecting the other.

vide an escape passage through avhieh the dead steam can pass out to the exhaust chamber. In a case wherea reverslngnnit comprises several reversingchambcrs these so that the dead steam escape passages are arranged in. .alinelhent can pass from the primary chamber through the succeeding lower pressure chambers until it reaches the "i eXhaust; s

- avill also "be apparent-by J the g V buckets can bearranged i A. nozzle forsupplyingactuating fluid to the turbine is indicated at "It isof course apparentthat my invent o'n'ls not confined to'reverslng units havrrig any number of reversing chambers, or to the precise construction illustrated in the drawings, show one embodiment ofthe invention.

aforei'nentioned -Terr-y --patent .1 that rotor as well as in the periphery, and that my invention can n'itli'sueh'a structure. i In 'Fig.-; 43'Ihave illustrated one. other way in Which'a reversing unit can be made The; frame s formed in one complete casting with a seriesv embodying I my inventioin of flat shoulders 8 arranged in. step..for1na-' 'ti'on on which he rear part of.the' division J v r 1 V plates are located andsecured. 25' i 1 1 I bercoinprisin'g a frame,

plate forming one Wall of said chamber sup- I Iclrim? I 1.. The combinat on in. a thud actuated turbine With a rotor having buckets of. SQIUL:

generic-.11 form, of a reversing chamberor semicvlhidrieal form'arranged in operative said reversing ;eha1n a sheet-metal guide relation to said rotor,

. ported in said frame, the front edge of said guideplatefbeing centrallynotched as and .1

for the purposes specified.

which are intended merely to reference to l atthe sides'of the be utilized in: connection ing chambers plates being nation with a rotor having bucketsof semicylindrieal shape, of a reversing unit comprising a frame having two or more revers- U of semicylindrical. shape lorined therein, division plates betiveen said chambers supported at their rear edges and part way along their side edges in said frame, thefortviard part/of said division freeirom support along the edges. whereby the lead" *andreturn faces of said plate can be bent at anfangle to the mainbody of said plate forthe purposes specified. n

3. In a fluid'aetuated turbine thecombination with a rotor having buckets of semicy' lindrical' shape. of a reversihgunit arranged in operative" relation to i said rotor, said reversing unit sen' icylindriqal reversing chambers formed therein and division plates betweensaid reversing ehanibers and supported-in said frame, said division plates being formed up from sheet m tal with a notch of substantial Qf seaplane.

p'rising a frame, s efmicylindrical chambers formed therein and division plates supported ,in saidfram'e and supporting-said reversing chainbers"from one another, and exhaust passages formed in said plates and establishing communication from one reversingchamber to adjacent reversing chainbers for the purposes specified.

' WILLIAM Jpn. LONDON.

iWitness'es I e. LYNCH, v HART.

Copies of this patent may'beobtained for five cents each, foil addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

,Wa shington D. 0.?

cy i l hap,""of a reversing unitcom- 

